ayahuasca

[ ah-yuh-wah-skuh ]
/ ˌɑ yəˈwɑ skə /

noun

a woody South American vine, Banisteriopsis caapi, of the malpighia family, having bark that is the source of harmine, a hallucinogenic alkaloid used by Amazon Indians.

Origin of ayahuasca

From American Spanish; further origin uncertain

Words nearby ayahuasca

axseed, axum, ay, ayacucho, ayah, ayahuasca, ayana, ayande, ayatollah, ayckbourn, aycliffe

Example sentences from the Web for ayahuasca

  • They make use of a narcotic drink called Ayahuasca, which produces effects similar to those of opium.

    The Andes and the Amazon |James Orton

British Dictionary definitions for ayahuasca

ayahuasca
/ (ˌaɪəˈwɑːskə) /

noun

a Brazilian plant, Banisteriopsis caapi, that has winged fruits and yields a powerful hallucinogenic alkaloid sometimes used to treat certain disorders of the central nervous system: family Malpighiaceae

Word Origin for ayahuasca

C20: from Quechua